The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1887-05-21
SuOI
\ sentenced Prisoner shot Nhilc At
tcmnIimg Esrnpc.

=
day had IN unusual sequel the sen
fenced man attempting tocscapo while
being taken back to jail, and being
shot in the attempt. Jesse Clark is Il
black man OF great physical powers
and dangerous disposition On De-
cember 81. last he lett Waco, where
be was living, and went to Harrison
station, stopping forCibly at the house
OF u colorcd woman and making her
get supper for him. While there
another negro man came in the cabin
and Clark shot him down. lie made
his escape but the act aroused the
cOlored people in the ncighborhood,
and arming themselves with guns they
hunted for Clark, and having found
him attempted to capture him but BE-
was armed and han ~ with lire arms
and the pursuers did not close OH him
Clark rCtrcated towards Waco. ald
the pursuers followed after him
driving him ia, firing at HIM. but
keeping al u distance d, he kept them
at bay by stopping when they got too
close, and ilrinV back, and thu. pur-
sued and pursuers in n battle at louK
range reached the Brazos bridge
Here the pur,ucrs rushed on Clark.
lie was knocked down and over
powered, bound hand and foot and
taken to Jail, and from thence, a day
or two later, taken back 90 Harrison.
bound over and brought back to iail
where no has lain ever since. Nes-
terday, under - indictment of an
assault to MI "ud murder, he was
tried and found guilty, and his pun
isnmcnt fixed Mt seven years in the
penltcntiary. The case was over, the
court adjourned and only one or two
left in tbs court house, when Mr.. Dan
Ford, deputy sheriff arose to take
the prisoner back to iail. He cX-
/ pressed his determination Of no.
going back. He had been there long
enough; he didn't like il, he ,Md.
Mr. Ford talked to him and got
HIM TO the back stairs and half way
down, the prisoner protesting that he
would not 90 back About half way
down the stairs he made sudden
turn around, evidently with the de-
termination o seize the officer and
his pistol Had he done so those who
know the man could readily coniect-
ure the probable consequences. MIR.
Ford Is quick wittol and quick to act.
lie gave the prisoner "a push before
he got his balance and pushing him
forward got him down stairs. Had
MIR. Ford been alone here would have
been u fearful and perhaps fatal strug-
Gle IN the shcriil's Office, but Mr.. Dick
Munro and Policeman Fisher Glanced
Go be on hand and came to his aid
aud attempted 10 corral the prisoner
who was determined not to be taken
back. Seeing that ne would be over
matched ana lust rs the back door
which leads into the Jail yard, was
reached hc made IL whirl and Il breAk
for liberty, Mr.. Ford springiug after
him. just n no reached the
late leading into Franklin street
Mr.. Ford fired on him. The ball
passed through hi ,hirt on the right
/ side just above the hips but did not
wound him, and Ford fired cgain as
he coached the bridge crossing the
ditcA about five pace, from thc gate,
hit him and he tcil striking heavily
on his face ON the bridge WOuuding
lim self severe y on the lips and side Of
his head on the planhs of the bridge
He wa picked up aud carried into
the Jail and the county physician sent
for. The second shot struck about
three inches back OF the lower part of
the lett ear. went under The skull and
/ through the lower bones of the car.
crushing them and came outof tho
centre Of the lleshy part of the cheek
He has been In u scml-comatosc con-
dtion since and Mighty, and at
this writing, DR., Taylor who
saw him short time ago expresses
the opinion that he will die before
morning though he may survive a
day or two. There is severe concus-
sion OF the brain if not liberation by
| fragments of the broken bone OF the
ear forced inward>. There it In addi-
| ton 10 the wounds on he lips received
in the tall on the bridge that may
have been made by stroke during
the scuille though that is not certain.
/ 1t is fortunate that a greater tragedy
Is not needed to be written Had the
prisoner gained the least advantage
it might have been the bloody end of
a good officer.